AL-AIN, UAE, 5 February 2005 — Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Ulster co-driver Chris Patterson began their 2005 FIA Middle East Rally Championship campaign in emphatic style by winning the ADNOC Distribution UAE International Rally, held over two days and 15 desert special stages in the Sweihan and Al-Ain areas of the Abu Dhabi emirate.
The event was organized under the patronage of Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Minister of Interior, and attracted 25 starters from 11 countries, at the start of what promises to be the most exciting regional championship on record.
Al-Attiyah began the second day’s loop of six stages around Al-Ain with a two-minute lead over the defending champion Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi and eventually claimed the first podium position by the winning margin of 1m 50s. The Qatari relinquished 30 seconds of his lead in the 13th stage after easing his pace in the Autotek-run Subaru Impreza WRX STi.
“It was a fantastic rally for me and a great start to the season,” said Al-Attiyah. “We had no problems with the new car and I showed that I have the pace to beat in the championship.”
Al-Qassimi and Ulster co-driver Michael Orr were content with a solid second position in their Power Horse World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STi to begin the defense of the regional title they claimed in Dubai last December.
